THE last-minute deal to save Tomlinscote Sports Centre for the Frimley community has been hailed a success, but Surrey Heath Borough Council’s handling of the situation has been derided as “a fiasco”.

The council’s new partner in running the centre, Tandridge Leisure, took over in July following a campaign by centre users against the council’s decision to end public use to cut costs.

Under a deal which runs until the end of the council’s contract in 2007, the public can still use the facilities at Tomlinscote School and Sixth Form outside school hours.

Tandridge Leisure managing director Paul Clark said: “We are committed to working in collaboration with all stake-holders to provide opportunities for high quality sport and physical activity at Tomlinscote Sports Centre.

However we recognise there is much work to be done to achieve that aspiration and as such it cannot be achieved overnight.”

Save Tomlinscote Action Group (STAG) chairman Chris Bean said: “On behalf of all users and local residents who supported us in our fight to keep the centre open, we are pleased that the school and Tandridge Leisure are willing to work with us to secure the long-term future of this much needed facility. All users must be excited that the centre can be reborn with renewed enthusiasm and commitment.”

Tandridge Leisure manages three centres in Surrey and was credited with the second highest facilities management score of all dual use sports centres in the country at a recent industry conference.

But Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr David Whitcroft said: “They have gone completely round in circles and it seems likely that the net cost will be greater to the council tax payers of Surrey Heath than had the situation been left as it was. I have been on the council since 1991 and during that time I have experienced major fiascos, disasters and nonsenses but I have to say that this one is in the top three of them all.

“The result of that is that the council has replaced DC Leisure with Tandridge Leisure, who it’s now paying £40,000 per year, and we are in the absolutely barmy position of having gone through all these hoops — upsetting the school, the users of the centre and local residents — to come back to the situation which existed before the dual user agreement was cancelled by the council.

“I welcome the efforts of the volunteers, who have turned the situation around in a very positive way and have helped the council out of a very difficult position. I think they have done a great job — people have really rallied round.”

Council leader Cllr Moira Gibson hoped the new management would work effectively with the school and STAG to secure the centre’s future after the council’s involvement ends in 2007.